The Philippines’ Cebu and Visayas islands were voted the Top Island in Asia, while Palawan and Siargao joined Asia’s Top 5 in the World’s Best Islands list of the Condé Nast Traveler (CNT) Readers’ Choice Awards 2020.
The Philippine islands dominated the Asia list of the 35 World’s Best Islands outside the United States traveler survey released on October 6, 2020.
“The places that stayed with you in a year when travel may have been out of reach,” writes Caitlin Morton in the introduction to the top island choices of CNT readers.
The 33rd annual survey of a record 600,000 registered voters listed the world list by region: the best in Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, the Caribbean and the Atlantic, Europe, North America, and best in the rest of the world.
Here are the Philippine islands voted into the Top 5 Islands in Asia:
1. Cebu & Visayas
Cebu and the Visayas islands topped the list, improving on its 2nd spot in the CNT ranking in 2019.
CNT cited the islands’ pristine beaches and diving locations. It also noted the Spanish and Roman Catholic influences in Cebu, the main site of the country’s 2021 Quincentennial Celebrations of the arrival of Christianity, and the victory of Mactan.
Kawasan Falls was recommended as a top travel spot.
4. Palawan
Palawan returns to the same No. 4 spot it held in the 2019 CNT.
The Readers’ Choice Awards recommended the top travel spots of the popular archipelagic province in the MIMAROPA Region of Luzon such as the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, El Nido, blue lagoon, Bacuit Archipelago.
5. Siargao Island
Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte, Mindanao grabbed the Top 5 spot in the world’s best list.
The Surfing Capital of the Philippines was cited for having “remained unspoiled, remote, and still relatively under the radar—despite the influx of development in recent years. You’ll likely fall for the island’s pristine white beaches, coconut woodlands, and emerald mangrove forest as soon as you land, as well as the clearest water you’ve ever seen.”
Sri Lanka took the 2nd spot while Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand took the 3rd spot in the 2020 edition of the CNT Top Asian islands.
The Philippines recently received the ‘Safe Travels’ stamp of approval from the World Tourism Council.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to the communities in the Philippine islands voted as Top Asian Islands in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2020.
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